Features – Page 12 – Pacific Maritime Magazine

Alaska & Hawaii: 2021 Update

As those in the know are already aware, there’s potential for growth in the Alaska and Hawaii regions. For years, West Coast companies have been cultivating a presence in the two states, expanding services, investing in new ships and lending their expertise to projects that are expected to bolster the states’ economies. Whether it’s new vessels or infrastructure projects, interesting things are happening in Alaska and Hawaii. Here’s a look at what’s been happening with respect to the maritime industry within the Aloha State and the Last Frontier. Pasha The Pasha Group’s presence in Hawaii is significant, as the…

Battling Bottlenecks: Congestion Rises at West Coast Ports

It’s no secret that the West Coast freight surge is building toward an even more feverish pace this fall. And why freight surged is also no secret to anyone who pays attention: the consumer-driven U.S. economy was supercharged after COVID-19’s effects waned. Why congestion resulted is no secret either: not enough equipment and people and space for cargo, along with too many mismatches in efficient handoffs of freight pickups and deliveries. Major carriers’ decisions to temporarily restrict shipment flow for hours or days to balance their own freight networks were a factor, too. Those inside the industry recognize both some…

Developments in Deck Machinery: 2021 Update

A good set of deck machinery is vitally important to the success of a vessel and the mariners that operate them. The companies that produce this machinery continue to strive to improve the quality, efficiency and reliability of their products, and some have recently made major deliveries of new products for tugs, barges and other vessels on the Pacific coastline and elsewhere around the world. In recent years, maintaining the natural environment has become a greater priority for deck machinery companies, and they’ve had the chance to work with cutting-edge ships, supporting novel efforts to reduce erosion, spear-heading deck equipment…

Catalina Express: Bringing the World to Catalina Island

Catalina Island has long been a favorite getaway destination for Southern Californians — and indeed receives visitors from across the country and around the world. For the majority of the last hundred years, the island has been a remote location accessible only by slow boat, seaplane or helicopter. It was difficult and expensive to visit. But all that changed in the summer of 1981 when Doug Bombard, his son Greg and colleague Tom Rutter bought the sport fishing boat Checkmate from Washington-based Westport Shipyards and modified it into a passenger vessel to carry passengers to and from Catalina Island. At…

Ransomware … It Can Ruin Your Whole Day!

When I used to drive U.S. Navy ships we would hear a cliché: “A collision at sea can ruin your whole day!” Well, that adage can also apply to a ransomware attack on your ship or port. Cyber-attacks on the maritime sector are on the rise and ransomware attacks have tripled in the past few years. Now is a time to learn more about ransomware and the threat it poses to you, your port and your company. What is Ransomware? Ransomware is a form of malicious software designed to encrypt files on a computer or digital device rendering any files…

Ferries Update – The Future is Green

When it comes to the next generation of passenger-only ferries, the future is green. West Coast ship makers are in the process of building vessels that are not only powerful enough to transport people and vehicles, but are constructed with advanced sustainability goals in mind, the kind of impact that can mean cleaner air in the long run. Here’s a look at what’s being built: Building Sea Change The name Sea Change is apropos for a ferry poised to advance the potential commercialization of fuel-cell powered marine vessels globally. Bellingham, Washington-based All American Marine has been at work on that…

New Developments in High-Speed Marine Propulsion

Several factors are driving innovation in marine shipbuilding, with among the most important ones being the Clean Air Act and subsequent EPA and CARB regulations. In some cases, standards were set before the technology to meet those goals could be developed. Another factor is the need for high-speed vessels with novel missions, such as in wind farm development. This article looks at recent and upcoming propulsion systems within the context of a sampling of new vessels. San Francisco Bar Pilot Boat, Designer: Camarc Design, UK, Builder: Snow & Company, Seattle WA Snow & Company, Inc. of Seattle, Wash. is currently…

Saildrone Plans Fleet of Surveyor Vessels to Map Earth’s Oceans

As data from the Saildrone Surveyor was still being mapped after her maiden voyage from San Francisco to Honolulu, owners of the uncrewed, autonomous vessel powered primarily by renewable wind and solar energy were already planning a fleet of Surveyors to map the world. “This successful maiden voyage marks a revolution in our ability to understand our planet,” said Richard Jenkins, Saildrone founder and chief executive officer. “We have solved the challenge of reliable long-range, large-payload remote maritime operations. Offshore survey can now be accomplished without a large ship and crew.” The 72-foot long, 14-ton Surveyor arrived in Honolulu on…

Ketchikan’s New Cruise Dock Opens for Business

Cruise ship industry traffic is getting a new boost into Southeast Alaska in August with the arrival of the Norwegian Encore at the site of what was once a thriving pulp mill, now transformed in a multi-million-dollar dock facility to accommodate neopanamax sized vessels. It’s one of the latest steps in the long-term transformation of Alaska’s southeasternmost major community, which lies on Revillagigedo Island, a summer fish camp for Tlingit Natives on the southern tip of the Inside Passage, which connects the Gulf of Alaska to Puget Sound. “We’re excited the ships are coming back to Alaska,” said John Binkley,…

Ocean & Coastal Towing: Crowley’s Making Moves

The ocean and coastal towing industry is evolving, and one of the companies being aggressive in its efforts to keep up with the times is Crowley Maritime. Crowley, which is based in Jacksonville, Florida, has a significant presence on the West Coast, including locations in Alaska, California and Washington state. The company and its various business arms and subsidiaries, including Crowley Fuels, Crowley Shipping, Jensen Maritime, Crowley Logistics and others – have been engaged in many moves — both literally and figuratively — over the past year-plus. Crowley’s marine services group operates one of the more established fleets of ship…